Hi Following might be of interest to some observers: These observations were made using my CoSaTrak system whilst waiting for USA 129. No attempt was made to follow the satellites so observations based on what was seen in the time it took to traverse the 4.8 degree field of view of the CCD camera as seen on a video monitor. G.Roberts, GR, Lat = -33.9405, Long = +18.5129, Alt = 10 m Cospar 0433 81- 41B 00-11-29 20:01 GR +5.7 steady 96- 72A 00-11-29 20:12 GR +4.4 steady 66- 31B 00-11-30 18:34 GR +5.9 steady 81- 43B 00-11-30 18:35 GR +6.0 steady 98- 42C 00-11-30 18:43 GR +6.3 steady 84- 10B 00-11-30 19:06 GR +6.7 varying ? 74- 71A 00-11-30 19:12 GR +6.4 steady 77- 44A 00-11-30 19:40 GR +6.5 irreg flashes to +6.0 80- 03B 00-11-30 19:18 GR +5.9 steady ? 72- 65B 00-11-30 19:30 GR +3.6 steady 65- 82AF 00-11-30 19:34 GR +5.6 steady 74- 48B 00-11-30 20:02 GR +5.9 steady 92- 23A 00-11-30 20:17 GR +5.6 irreg flickering 83-109A 00-11-30 20:17 GR +6.2 steady 79- 89B 00-12-01 18:35 GR +6.0 steady 98- 23D 00-12-01 18:38 GR +7.4 flickering? 91- 63B 00-12-01 19:01 GR +4.2 steady 72- 62B 00-12-01 19:24 GR +6.7 steady 85- 13B 00-12-01 20:38 GR +6.0 steady 96- 72A 00-12-01 19:25 GR +6.0 steady 96- 72A 00-12-01 21:03 GR +2.5 brilliant,steady 97- 68B 00-12-01 18:37 GR +5.5 to +6.9,p=1.176 sec The procedure I use is to set the low light level camera at a known azimuth/elevation position ( sometimes chosen at random) then sit and watch the video monitor and make a note of satellites crossing the field of view as well as direction of travel, etc. The next day I run through the video tape , on which the data was recorded, and, in conjunction with GUIDE V7 or SKYMAP64, I identify the satellites seen on the tape. Magnitudes are estimated by comparing to stars in the field of view that have approximately the same brightness - the disadvantage here is that the ccd chip in the camera has a better response in the infra-red so magnitudes may vary a lot due to the spectral class of the star chosen - I avoid red stars . Since time is also recorded on the video tape I can do positional work on any of the objects seen, if required. Cheers Greg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- Lazy bum (retired astronomer), visual/radio satellite tracker,computer junkie, radio amateur (ZS1BI - not active - told you I was a lazy bum!) COSPAR #0433: Long 18.51294 deg E, Lat 33.94058 deg S Alt 10 metres. Pinelands (near Cape Town),South Africa ----------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe from SeeSat-L by sending a message with 'unsubscribe' in the SUBJECT to SeeSat-L-request@lists.satellite.eu.org http://www2.satellite.eu.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
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